Mission Being Accomplished
The Mission Society's chaplain, Father Christopher
Zugger, spent 22 days in Central Europe this past spring. It was
a real adventure, especially since he uses a wheelchair and
walks in leg braces - this in a region with practically no
handicap access.
But off he went, in the company of Mark Wansa, whose
father came from a little Rusyn village in eastern Slovakia up
by the Polish border. Father Chris delivered lectures at:
International Theological Institute, Gaming, Austria;
Blessed Paul Peter Gojdich Seminary, Presov;
East-West Center, Kosice;
Blessed Theodore Romzha Seminary, Uzhorod;
Ukrainian Catholic University, L'viv; and
gave a retreat to the Greek Catholic students in the
International Theological Institute, who come from
Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, and Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation in
Chicago was of tremendous help with the visa and travel
arrangements to L'viv and Chust. Through the kindness of
Cardinal Schonborn of Vienna, Father was able to celebrate
the Divine Liturgy in the Saint Stefan Cathedral of Vienna, in
front of the original Weeping Icon of Mariapocs, which is a
very popular shrine for the local Austrians, at the beginning of
this trip, and at the shrine in Hungary underneath the second
Weeping Icon, where he observed his 23rd anniversary of
priesthood.
Bishop Milan Sasik, CM, presented the Mission Society
with a certificate of appreciation for its work on behalf of our
Church in the Eparchy of Mukachevo "promoting the historic
memory of the martyrs" and "financial support of the
seminary, churches, clergy and people." Bishop Milan
Chautur, CSsSR, of Kosice thanked the donors for the
support given to seminarians, the priests in the form of Liturgy
intentions, and the parishes that have benefited. Bishop Jan
Babjak, SJ, of Presov also extended his thanks for the benefits
received by his seminarians and priests, and for help to the
school. In Hungary, Father Chris received sincere thanks for
the Liturgy intentions that have helped the married priests
there. All of the bishops invited Father to return, and to speak
to the seminarians in particular.
Fr. Chris travelling the cobble paved streets of
Eastern Europe
Fr. Chris at Shrine in Mariapocs
All SUppORT of T~E MissioN Socisrv's WORk is iN AddiTioN TO MEMbERS' ANd dONORS' EXiSTiNGSUppORT
of mEiR locd pARis~, T~EiR EPARCHY, ANd mE METRpoliA of Plrrsbench. RENEWAl of OUR MOT~ER
C~URC~ iN CENTRAl EUROpE CANNOTMEANA diMiNis~MENT of OUR ANANciAl ANd SpiRiTUAl dEdiCATioN TO
THEC~URC~ iN AMERiCA.
Mission Society of the Mother of God of Boronyavo
MISSION SOCIETY OF
THE MOTHER OF
GOD OF
BORONY AVO, INC.
The Mission Society is an
independent organization
dedicated to the renewal
and strengthening of the
Byzantine Catholic
Church in America and
Central Europe.
Mailing address:
1838 Palomas NE
Albuquerque, NM87110
telephone (505) 2655350. website:
www.missionboronyavo.org
LOCAL
REPRESENTATIVES:
Denver Fr. Deacon
Andrew and Olga Bodnar:
303-932-1490
Phoenix: Diane Rabiej:
480460-0902
Albuquerque: Sven
Svensson (505) 292-4271
NATIONAL LEVEL:
Chaplain-Moderator Rev.
Chris Zugger
Directors:
Rose Mary Mastripolito,
Treasurer
Cassandra Epstein
National Officers:
Olga Bodnar Director
Diane Rabiej, Assistant
Director
Brian Escobedo, Attorney
Newsletter Editor: Rev.
Chris Zugger
Newsletter Layout:
Stephanie Block
PROJECTS VISITED:
Presov Eparchy - Bishop Jan Babjak, SJ.
Fr. Chris and Bishop Babjak discussed the pastoral studies program being conducted by the
Seminary. The bishop invited father to return to Slovakia and give a retreat to the seminarians, as
they emphasize spiritual preparation a great deal to strengthen the men when they are stationed in
isolated parishes. The Seminary serves all of Slovakia. "Our suffering has borne fruit, which
means we have vocations."
Father left donations for the seminary, for liturgy intentions, and
personal donations.
Kosice Exarchate - Bishop Milan Chautur, CSsSR
A new curia center is being built. This may not sound important, but it is, due to the fact that it
will also be a ministry center. The outreach to the Roma (gypsies) is very significant - this is a big
project now of the Catholic Church, cooperating with the State in settling the Roma but working
with them to advance their poor status and preach the Gospel to them. The Byzantine Catholics
have Roma priests and sisters now - a big step! The curia center will also provide for youth
ministry offices, and education.
Zemplinska Teplica. This town was called 'Zernplin Cross' before 1948. For some reason, the
religious name has not been restored. The pastor is Father Maros Rinik, a married priest. The
church of the Nativity of Our Lady was founded in 1700, and the current building dates from
1795. It has a structural problem, because the original round chapel of 1700 now forms the
sanctuary, and the larger church was added on. The interior has been re-painted in its original
glory, but there is no ieonostas. The parish has spent 1 million crowns already on fixing the walls
and roof and dome. There are 500 parishioners.
Father Rinik was raised in the Faith by his maternal grandmother during communist times. He
goes to Trans-Carpathia to serve Old Calendar feasts so as to assist the priests. He does have a
filial community with 100 people, but there is opposition to the opening of a Greek Catholic
chapel. The parish needs to build an icononstas and help with heating in the church. This is in
the hill country and it can be quite chilly.
Mukachevo Eparchy - Bishop Milan Sasik, CM, Administrator
BI. Theodore Romzha Seminary. The original seminary is still used as a museum. This new
building is on the outskirts of the capital. It has 114 students. Father Taras Lovska is Rector and
also Proto-Syncellus of the Eparchy. He will be opening a Minor Seminary in Chust in 2005, and
move the younger students there. There is a Byzantine Franciscan community with four students
here. Bishop Shashik will be building a new chapel at the roadside to commemorate the
Translation of the Relics of Bishop Rornzha (June 28th).
The seminarians cut the grass by hand, with long sickles. There is hot and cold running water in
some rooms. Food is adequate, with soup served daily. The level of devotion is high - the singing
at the Liturgy was really impressive. Three students will be going to Rome, and 5 to Moscow.
They will go to Moscow to study at the Biblical Institute, and learn Russian and how to minister to
ethnic Russians in the Oblast (some of whom are converting to our church).
Bl. Theodore Romzha Orphanage, Korolevo. This institution was founded by Father Ivan
Isaevich and is staffed by Sisters of Saint Joseph. There are 10 girls with no parents - this is
usually a result of alcoholic neglect - and the State has asked the sisters to take 10 more. There are
also 40 boys and girls from single-parent families (fathers and mothers alike), who come for
schooling, hygiene, and whose parents get direction from the Sisters. The Superior is Sister
Josaphata, It is a sad fact that orphans will be a growing problem in all Ukraine due to
alcoholism, drug abuse, and family breakdown. Fr. Chris left donations here for the orphanage and
for the convent.
Mission Society of the Mother of God of Boronyavo
rLI~G;;E~R-;;L;::-Y=gi;7n
::-m;;:f-=d=s;:il~a;;e
~o=ity
for =B;:ti~a~ic7t;ur~n
Central Europe to expand its ministry in many ways - church repairs, church bells, new buildings, orphanages, convents. Please
consider giving a donation to the following causes:
SLOVAKIA - The parish of Zbehnov has 105 Greek Catholic believers, and they have donated $29 000 so far plus labor for
the reconstruction of the old church and parish house, and paved footpaths around the buildings. The church is need of a bell to
call its people to worship, and, in the words of the Blessing of Bells Prayer, "to call men's souls to lift themselves up to the
Lord." Their old cracked bell and its driving gear can be repaired at a cost of $4,300. Please help.
The filial church at Male Ozorovce has 250 Greek Catholic faithful. A new church was built in honor of the Transfiguration in
1996-98, and an iconostas installed in 2001-2003. This parish has spent $189 000 so far, plus the free labor of the people. They
want to complete the church interior with frescoes of images of the lives of Jesus and Mary, for a total cost of $13,000. They
have exhausted their resources - can you help? Please contact the Mission Office to ask about sponsoring an entire wall or
particular scenes (Nativity, Resurrection, etc).
TRANS-CARP ATIDA - The Orphanage of Blessed Theodore Rornzha is the first Greek Catholic orphanage in the entire
province. Other orphanages have Greek Catholic priests working as chaplains, as in Vinohradiv. Sisters of Saint Joseph from
Galicia and local volunteers staff this institution. It has ten girls in full-time residence, and the state of Ukraine is asking the
Sisters to take more children. It also has nearly 40 children who are part-time, coming from single-parent families of a mother or
father who needs the help of the Sisters in raising these little ones. The orphanage needs repairs to the roofs and walls, more
sleeping quarte~s, and a completed chapel.
One - third of the 112 students cannot afford to pay $10 a month for their studies? Can you? Mark your donation Seminary
and indicate if you will be contributing monthly. Or you can send one check in a particular amount for the support of a
seminarian over the span of several months!
We gratefully acknowledge the donation of $2,000 in memory of -Catherine Hoenig from the family of Kathleen Crossley. This
money will go to the repair and strengthening of the walls and roof of the Convent and Orphanage conducted by the Sisters of Saint
Joseph in Korolevo, Trans-Carpathia.
I wish I had more to give, but I can't afford much now. How else can I help?
•
•
•
PRA Y - for vocations in America, and for the building up of our Church in the nations of Eastern Europe.
Organize a pancake breakfast at your parish after Divine Liturgy, with your pastor's permission, and round
up volunteers for shopping, cooking, serving, and cleaning up. It doesn't take much work to raise enough to
renovate a room or pay for a seminarian's tuition.
Hold a garage sale at your home. Get other people to donate items. Post a sign that all the income goes to
help seminarians in Uzhorod, Ukraine. Put notices about the sale in the regular newspaper notices, and in
church bulletins around your area.
PLease cut and insert into enclosed enveLope with your donation( s).
I want to donate $10 every month for the support of a poor seminarian.
Enclosed is my first donation of $.
_
I am sending $100 $200 $300 $400 $500 $750 other amount $__
eleven unfinished bedrooms in the seminary.
I want to donate for the new orphanage
Please use this for the greatest need $.
Please send me envelops.
for the renovation
in Korolevo and am enclosing $
of one of the
.
_
Liturgy Stipends ($5 for each Divine Liturgy - please state your intention clearly)
-------------------------
Mission Society of the Mother of God of Boronyavo
Carmelite Monastery. Mother Andrea, OCD, is the
Superior. The cloistered Carmelites number 5 sisters. Fr
Yuri Sabov comes to offer the Liturgy in the chapel. The
sisters are creating a vineyard, and want to finish
purchasing the adjacent house and land so that they can
expand their orchard and obtain a cow. Since they do not
eat meat, and fish is very expensive, the sisters rely on fruit
and dairy products for their diet. If they can sell 1,000 liters
of wine from their vineyard, they can pay for one winter's
heating bills. It is a place where Catholics and Orthodox can
come together to pray without arguing, and also the
presence of a contemplative monastery is extremely
important. The original contemplative monasteries of the
Greek Catholic Church are all now Orthodox.
Parish house in Gurok
Seminary at Uzhorod
Orphans
in Korolevo Orpohanage
Gurok village. This parish is served by Father Vitalii
Shelemba. The parish house is almost finished and the
interior is being used on the first floor for parish meetings
and religious education. The priest's family will ultimately
live on the top floor, giving up their house in Beregovo.
Currently it is a 30 - 50 minute drive one way for Fr
Shelemba to go to Gurok. I left donations here for the parish
house, and for the church. The church of St Michael is from
the late 18th century, with a full baroque iconostas. The
church was Orthodox of course, but today only 20 families
in the village are not Greek Catholic - they are Baptists who
were converted in the 1970s. Otherwise the whole
community returned to our Church. There is a filial village
nearby which we did not get to, where Father plans to start
holding Divine Liturgies. That village is divided religiously,
so it will be a challenge.
Heating is a big issue in Ukraine - the normal rate for
gas is 17 kopeks per cubic meter, but the seminary and
monastery are charged 50 kopeks instead. This is a legacy
of Soviet-era rules that charged religious institutions higher
rates, and also a capitalist approach of charging
"businesses" a higher rate. It would be good to be able to
assist with the heating bills for the Carmelites and the
Seminarians.
Tuition for a seminarian in Uzhorod runs at $120 per
year. Donors for this would help the men from poor families
(the vast majority) and keep expenses down for the school.
The opening of a Minor Seminary in Chust is
important. It is better to the keep the students of Years 1-2
separate from the older students in Years 3-6, to give them
time for discernment and an environment that will
discernment and an environment that will help graduates of
the secular school system adjust to seminary life.
Orphanages in Ukraine are going to continue to
expand. There is a serious need both for these, and for prolife work due to the high abortion rates. The orphanages
also have kindergartens and parents' training programs.
These are obviously very important. There is hope that the
kindergartens could evolve into parish schools, which have
not been since 1946. The parents need Christian moral
support in their daily living and in learning to be good
Catholic parents.